The Florida woman said she suspects the otter that attacked her was rabid. (iStock)
A woman in Maitland, Fla., who was hoping to take a leisurely walk with her dog last week ended up becoming the victim of a brutal attack — by what appeared to be a rabid otter.
The attack occurred on Jan. 8 when Ann-Christine Langselius was taking a stroll with her pup, a Goldendoodle named Zoe, at Lake Lily Park. Langselius told Fox News she was on a bridge when she saw the otter “running fast toward" her.
THREE CHILDREN IN FLORIDA DIE AFTER LOCKING THEMSELVES INSIDE FREEZER: POLICE
The animal attacked Langselius' right leg before biting the Achilles tendon on her left leg. She claims the otter “hung on” while she ran off the bridge. Her dog was not injured in the attack.
"It was obvious from this animal’s behavior that it was ill."
The woman later received “several” rabies shots. Langselius said she's also currently unable to walk “due to the severe bites" in her leg.
"[I’m] very sore," she added.
Langselius, who is originally from northern Sweden, said she has “encountered animals many times [before] and it was obvious from this animal’s behavior that it was ill.” She claims she did not provoke the otter.
An officer with the Maitland Police Department later shot and killed an otter near Lake Maitland, not far off from where Langselius was attacked. The animal was later determined to be rabid by the Florida Department of Health, WFTV-9 reported.
ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION DRUG OVERDOSE CAUSED MAN'S 'DEBILITATING' VISION PROBLEMS, STUDY SAYS
Langselius suspects the otter killed by the police officer is the same one that attacked her.
The attack comes after officials had previously warned locals about an "aggressive” otter in the area, according to the news station.
The hottest stories ripped from the headlines, from crime to courts, legal and scandal.
